Exhibit 10(n)

                              CONSULTING AGREEMENT


         CONSULTING  AGREEMENT  ("Agreement")  made as of Nov. 8, 1999 by and
between AMSCAN INC., a New York  corporation  with a principal place of business
at 80 Grasslands Road,  Elmsford,  New York 10523 (the "Company") and WILLIAM S.
WILKEY,  an  individual  residing  at 123  Harbor  Drive,  Unit  212,  Stamford,
Connecticut 06902 (the "Consultant").

         WHEREAS,  Consultant has previously rendered services to the Company as
an officer and employee of the Company; and

         WHEREAS,  the  employment  relationship  between  the  Company  and the
Consultant has terminated; and

         WHEREAS,  the Company desires to continue to benefit from the knowledge
and  expertise of the  Consultant  and thereby  wishes to retain the  consulting
services of the  Consultant  and the  Consultant  is willing to provide  certain
consulting  services to the Company  relating to the  marketing  and sale of the
Company's products;

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration of the foregoing and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties
agree as follows:

1.   APPOINTMENT.  The Company hereby retains the Consultant during the Term, as
     defined  in  Section  2, to render to the  Company,  its  subsidiaries  and
     affiliates,  services of an advisory or consultative  nature in the area of
     sales,  marketing,  pricing and customer  relations so that the Company may
     have the benefit of the  experience,  knowledge and contacts  gained by the
     Consultant as an employee and officer of the Company (the  "Services")  and
     career with the industry. Consultant hereby agrees to render to the Company
     the Services during the Term in accordance with the terms and provisions of
     this Agreement.

2.   TERM.

     (a)  TERM. The term of this Agreement  shall commence as of the date hereof
          and shall,  unless sooner  terminated as provided herein,  continue in
          full force and effect until September 30, 2002 (the "Term").




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     (b)  TERMINATION. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Consultant's retention
          by the Company hereunder shall terminate upon the occurrence of any of
          the following events:

              (i)    the  mutual  agreement,  in  writing,  at any time,  by the
                     Consultant and the Company to terminate such retention;

              (ii)   the death of the Consultant;

              (iii)  the unilateral  cessation or discontinuance by the
                     Consultant of his rendering the Services to the Company;

              (iv)   upon thirty (30) days written notice by the Company and the
                     payment of the amount set forth in Paragraph 2(e); or

              (v)    the  termination  of  the  Consultant's  retention  by  the
                     Company, for "Cause", as hereinafter defined.

     (c)  TERMINATION  FOR CAUSE.  For the purposes of this  Agreement,  "Cause"
          shall mean any of the following:

              (i)    the  violation  by  the   Consultant  of  any  law  or  the
                     commission  by the  Consultant  of any  crime  or an act of
                     fraud against the Company;

              (ii)   a breach  of any of the terms of the  Separation  Agreement
                     between the Company and the Consultant dated as of the date
                     hereof;

              (iii)  any material breach of this Agreement; or

              (iv)   any  conduct  on the  part of the  Consultant  which  has a
                     material   adverse  effect  upon  the  performance  by  the
                     Consultant  of his duties  hereunder or a material  adverse
                     effect  upon  the  relationship  of  any  customers  and/or
                     employees  of  the  Company  or   potential   customers  or
                     employees of the Company with the Company.

     (d)  NO RIGHTS AFTER TERMINATION.  Upon the termination of the Consultant's
          retention hereunder,  whether at the natural end of the Term or in the
          event of the earlier  termination of the Term as provided herein,  the
          Consultant  shall have no further rights under this Agreement,  except
          as expressly  set forth  herein.  Nothing  herein  contained  shall be
          deemed to preclude the Company from  enforcing any remedies  available
          to it at law or equity in consequence





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<PAGE>





          of a breach by the  Consultant  of his  obligations  to the Company or
          available  to the  Company  under the  provisions  of this  Agreement,
          including without  limitation,  the enforcement of any confidentiality
          obligations or  restrictive  covenants  hereunder,  all of which shall
          survive  the  termination  of the  Term  and  the  termination  of the
          Consultant's retention hereunder by the Company.

     (e)  Upon  termination  of this Agreement  pursuant to Paragraph  2(b)(iv),
          Consultant  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  an  amount  equal to the
          compensation payable for the remaining term of this Agreement.

3.   STOCKHOLDERS' AGREEMENT.

     (a)  WAIVER OF CALL RIGHTS. The Company agrees that during the term of this
          Agreement,  it shall  not  exercise  its  "call  rights"  pursuant  to
          Paragraph 4.1 of that certain Stockholders  Agreement,  dated December
          19,  1997,  as amended by  Amendment  No. 1 dated as of August 6, 1998
          (the   "Stockholders'   Agreement")   among   the   Company   and  its
          stockholders.

     (b)  EFFECT OF TERMINATION ON  STOCKHOLDERS  AGREEMENT.  The parties hereby
          expressly agree that the termination of the Company's retention of the
          Consultant hereunder,  whether upon the natural expiration of the Term
          or pursuant to the provisions of clause (b) or clause (c) above, shall
          result in the Company  immediately  having the right to  exercise  its
          call rights set forth in Paragraph 4.1 of the Stockholders Agreement.

4.   PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES.

     (a)  SERVICES.  During the Term, the Consultant  shall devote such business
          time,  skill and  efforts to the affairs of the Company as the Company
          shall  reasonably  determine  is  necessary to permit the faithful and
          diligent performance of his duties hereunder.

     (b)  COMMUNICATIONS WITH COMPANY AND PERSONNEL. Notwithstanding anything to
          the contrary  otherwise  contained  herein,  all  communication by the
          Consultant  with the Company,  its employees,  customers and suppliers
          shall be made exclusively  through Gerry  Rittenberg  unless otherwise
          specifically requested by Mr. Rittenberg.

     (c)  INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. The Consultant shall at all times act strictly
          and  exclusively  as  an  independent  contractor  and  shall  not  be
          considered  as having  employee  status under any law,  regulation  or
          ordinance or as being





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          entitled  to  participate  in or  benefit  under  any plan or  program
          established  at any  time  by  the  Company  for  its  employees.  The
          Consultant shall have no managerial  authority or responsibility of an
          officer or supervisor of the Company.  The  Consultant  shall not have
          any  authority  to bind the  Company to any  contract or to commit the
          Company  in any  manner  whatsoever.  The  Consultant  shall  not hold
          himself out as representative or agent of the Company.

     (d)  APPLICABLE   LAWS.  The  Consultant  shall  perform  the  Services  in
          conformity with all applicable laws,  regulations,  decrees,  policies
          and  orders  and  shall  at  all  times  provide  the  Services  in  a
          professional manner.

5.   COMPENSATION.  The  Company  agrees to pay,  and the  Consultant  agrees to
     accept,  in full  consideration  for the  performance  by Consultant of the
     Services,  annual  compensation  of $220,500.  Such  compensation  shall be
     payable in monthly  installments.  In the event of the  termination  of the
     Consultant's retention hereunder before the end of any 12 month period, the
     compensation for the year of termination  shall be pro-rated to the date of
     termination.

6.   RESTRICTIVE  COVENANT. In consideration of his special and unique services,
     as Executive  Vice President of Sales while employed by the Company and his
     position as a key  executive  officer of the Company and as a result of his
     retention as Consultant hereunder,  Consultant has been brought and will be
     brought into close contact with trade secrets,  proprietary information and
     other  confidential  material  and  assets of the  Company  and  Consultant
     covenants and agrees as follows with the Company:

     (a)  For  the   purposes  of  this   Agreement,   the  term   "Confidential
          Information" shall mean any data, proprietary  information,  financial
          information,  trade  secrets,  and other  materials  and  information,
          including,  without limitation,  contracts,  customer lists,  supplier
          lists,  and the names of  representatives  of customers  and suppliers
          responsible  for entering into contracts with the Company  information
          as to specific  customer needs,  requirements  and purchasing  history
          pricing  information,   information  relating  to  costs,   marketing,
          selling,  customers  and  suppliers,  servicing,   technology,  plans,
          processes, techniques,  inventions,  discoveries, designs, patterns or
          devices in any way concerning the operation of the Company's business.
          The term  Confidential  Information  does not include any  information
          which (i) at the time of  disclosure  is  generally  available  to the
          public (other than as a result of a disclosure  directly or indirectly
          by Consultant, or (ii) has been





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          independently  acquired or developed by a third party not obligated to
          keep such information confidential.

     (b)  Consultant hereby agrees that during the term of this Agreement and at
          all times  thereafter that he: (i) will keep  confidential and protect
          all Confidential  Information (as hereinabove defined) known to him or
          in his possession, (ii) will not disclose any Confidential Information
          to any person or entity,  except as may be required in the performance
          by him of his  duties  as of the  Company,  (iii)  will  not  use  any
          Confidential  Information  except  for the  exclusive  benefit  of the
          Company  and (iv) will  return  any  Confidential  Information  and/or
          documents containing  Confidential  Information at the end of the term
          or at any time at the Company's request.

     (c)  As used in this Agreement,  the term "Covenant  Period" shall mean the
          period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on the date
          that is three (3) years after the last day of  Consultant's  retention
          hereunder.  During the Covenant Period,  Consultant shall not directly
          or indirectly (whether as owner, principal,  agent, partner,  officer,
          employee,   independent  contractor,   consultant,   stockholder,   or
          otherwise), engage or participate or have any financial interest in or
          perform   services  for,  any  entity  which  offers  any  service  in
          competition  with the Company or engage in or perform  services in any
          business or activity  involved in or related to the business which the
          Company any of its  affiliates is now or may hereafter  become engaged
          in, any location where such activity would be in competition  with the
          business of the Company.  The Employee  acknowledges  that the Company
          now carries on its business in many trading areas throughout the world
          and in particular in the United States and Canada.

     (d)  During the Covenant Period,  Consultant shall not, for himself or with
          or as an agent for any other  person,  firm,  corporation  or  entity,
          directly or  indirectly,  solicit or provide  services to or divert or
          otherwise interfere with the business relationship of the company with
          (i) any person or entity who is a client or customer of the Company at
          any time during the Covenant  Period or (ii) any potential  clients or
          customers with whom the Company is actively negotiating at the time of
          termination of Consultant's retention hereunder.

     (e)  During  the  Covenant   Period,   Consultant  shall  not  directly  or
          indirectly,  for  his own  benefit  or for the  benefit  of any  other
          person,  firm,  corporation or entity,  divert,  or attempt to divert,
          solicit,  recruit,  entice  or hire away any  employees,  consultants,
          artists or independent contractors of the Company,  whether or not any
          such person is a full-time, part-time or temporary





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          employee, consultant or independent contractor and whether or not such
          person's  employment or  engagement  is for a determined  period or at
          will,  unless  such  person  shall have  ceased to be employed by such
          entity  for a period  of at  least  12  months.  For  purposes  of the
          provision,   employees   shall  be  deemed  to   include   independent
          contractors.

     (f)  SEVERABILITY.  If a court of competent  jurisdiction  shall  determine
          that the covenant  contained  in this  Section 6 shall be  enforceable
          only  if  limited  to a  shorter  period  of  time  or  to  a  smaller
          geographical  area than is herein  expressly  provided,  or  otherwise
          limited,  then and in such event,  such covenant shall be deemed to be
          limited to the extent so  determined  to be  enforceable,  in the same
          manner and to the same extent as if such  limitations  were  expressly
          provided herein.

7.   RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.

     (a)  REMEDIES.  The  Consultant  acknowledges  that he  will be  performing
          unique duties for the Company and that the provisions of Section 6 are
          reasonable  and necessary for the  protection of the Company.  Each of
          the rights and remedies  enumerated herein shall be independent of the
          other,  and shall be severally  enforceable and all of such rights and
          remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights
          and  remedies  available  to  the  Company  under  law  or in  equity.
          Consequently,  in the event that the Consultant  commits a breach,  or
          threatens to commit a breach, of any of the provisions of Section 6 of
          this Agreement,  the Company, in addition to any other remedies it may
          have  at law  or in  equity,  shall  have  the  following  rights  and
          remedies:

              (i)    The right and remedy to obtain a  preliminary  or permanent
                     injunction  enjoining such breach or threatened  breach, it
                     being  acknowledged  and  agreed  that any such  breach  or
                     threatened  breach  will  cause  irreparable  injury to the
                     Company and that money  damages  alone will be difficult to
                     determine  and will  provide  an  inadequate  remedy to the
                     Company; and

              (ii)   The right and remedy to require the  Consultant  to account
                     for and pay over to the Company all compensation,  profits,
                     or other benefits  derived or received by the Consultant as
                     the result of any transactions constituting a breach of any
                     of  the  provisions  of  Section  5 or  Section  6 of  this
                     Agreement,  and the Consultant hereby agrees to account for
                     and pay over same to the Company.





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8.   SUCCESSORS  AND  ASSIGNS.  This  Agreement  shall be binding upon and shall
     inure to the  benefit of the parties and their  respective  successors  and
     assigns hereto;  provided,  however, that neither this Agreement nor any of
     the rights,  duties and obligations of the Consultant  shall be assignable,
     transferable or subject to delegation  without the prior written consent of
     the Company and any attempted  assignment,  transfer or delegation  without
     such written consent shall be null and void.

9.   AMENDMENT.  This  Agreement  may be amended  only in writing  signed by the
     party against which such amendment is sought to be enforced.

10.  WAIVERS,  ETC.  Compliance with any provision  hereof may be waived only in
     writing  signed  by the party  against  which  such  waiver is sought to be
     enforced. No exercise of or failure to exercise any right hereunder, and no
     partial or single exercise of any such right, shall operate as a waiver, or
     otherwise affect such exercise or any other exercise,  of that or any other
     right, it being  understood that all such rights and all remedies  therefor
     are intended to be cumulative and not exclusive.

11.  NOTICES.  All  notices  and  other  communications  required  or  permitted
     hereunder shall be in writing (including  facsimile) and shall be deemed to
     have been duly given when delivered by hand, faxed or mailed,  certified or
     registered  mail,  return  receipt  requested  and  postage  prepaid to the
     parties at their  respective  addresses  and  facsimile  numbers  set forth
     below,  or at such  other  address or  facsimile  number as the party to be
     notified may have otherwise designated,  by notice in writing, to the other
     party:

     (a)      If to the Company:        Amscan Inc.
                                        80 Grasslands Road
                                        Elmsford, New York 10523
                                        Attention: James M. Harrison
                                        Facsimile No.: 914-345-2056





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              with a copy to:           Kurzman & Eisenberg, LLP
                                        One North Broadway
                                        White Plains, New York 10601
                                        Attention: Joel S. Lever, Esq.
                                        Facsimile No.: 914-285-9855

     (b)      If to the Consultant:     Mr. William Wilkey
                                        123 Harbor Drive
                                        Unit 212
                                        Stamford, CT 06902
                                        Facsimile No.:

              with a copy to:
                                        --------------------------
                                        --------------------------
                                        --------------------------


12.  GOVERNING  LAW.  This  Agreement  shall be governed by, and  construed  and
     enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

13.  COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more  counterparts,
     each of which shall be deemed an original,  but all of which together shall
     constitute one and the same instrument.

14.  FACSIMILE  SIGNATURES.  Receipt  of  facsimile  copies of  signature  pages
     hereof,  as between the  recipient  thereof and the party that executed and
     sent the same, shall constitute delivery of such signature pages; provided,
     however,  that  originals  are  promptly  delivered by  commercial  courier
     service.

15.  SEVERABILITY.  If any  provision  of  this  Agreement,  or the  application
     thereof to any person, place or circumstance,  shall be held to be invalid,
     unenforceable or void in any jurisdiction,  the remainder of this Agreement
     and such provisions as applied to other persons,  places and  circumstances
     shall remain in full force and effect and such holding shall not effect the
     validity,  legality  or  enforceability  of such  provisions  in any  other
     jurisdiction.





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         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  have caused  this  Agreement  to be
executed on the date first written above.


                                            AMSCAN INC.


                                            By: /s/ JAMES M. HARRISON
                                                -----------------------------
                                                Name:
                                                Title:

                                            /s/ WILLIAM S. WILKEY
                                            ---------------------------------
                                            WILLIAM S. WILKEY





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